Vacuum packaging means



May 12, 1970 F. A. LYON ETAI- 3,511,021

' VACUUM PACKAGING MEANS Filed March 28, 1968 8 Sheets-Sheet l VAC.

VAC.

INVENTORS VACUUM SEAL FLOYD A. LYON CLEMENT R.

May 12, 1970 F. A. LYON ET'AL 3,511,021

VACUUM PACKAGING MEANS Hill! INVENTORS FLOYD A. LYON CLEMENT R. KONARSMay 12, 1970 F. A. LYON ETAL 3,511,021

VACUUM PACKAGING MEANS Filed March 28, 1968 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 F T a U U IJ w AG) 3 N 3 f X a 0 0 a: a, 5 W J F; L: III Y 7 8\ ll 2 G I L "I :H!

w Q m w u= v c" I LL. I H" '[l INVENTORS mom A. LYON LU CWT R. KONARSMay 12, 1970 F, A, LYON ETAL VACUUM PACKAGING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed March 2.8, 1968 CLEPENT R. KONARS May 12, 1970 LYON ETAL VACUUMPACKAGING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 28, 1968 m m N O NO V m w:m FC 3 v n. MI .NSW. :4 E mwl r r m y 3 May 12; 1970 LYON ET AL VACUUMPACKAGING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 28, 968

INVENTORS FLOYD A. LYON CLEMENT R. KONARS 0 zmu hm a K10 w SE23 no.3 3

ago:

United States Patent 3,511,021 VACUUM PACKAGING MEANS Floyd A. Lyon,Brookville, and Clement R. Konars, Glen Cove, N.Y., assignors to HalmInstrument Co., Inc.,

Glen Head, N.Y.

Filed Mar. 28, 1968, Ser. No. 716,927 Int. Cl. B65b 31/02 US. Cl. 53-1128 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vacuum packaging means for softarticles such as textiles. An indexing table having a plurality of bagholding positions, each with gripping jaws. Bags are fed to the table ata first work location. At a second work loca tion the bags are openedand an article inserted. At a third work location, the bag iscompressed, evacuated and sealed. At a fourth work location, the sealed,filled bag is ejected.

This invention relates to vacuum packaging means for soft articles suchas shirts and other articles of clothing.

In packaging soft articles such as shirts, it is desired that thearticle be compressed and the package be contoured to the shape of thearticle to save shipping and storage space. It has been found that softtextile articles can be placed in a bag and compressed to a firm bundlea fraction of the original size. The bag is evacuated by a vacuum pumpand the bag sealed. When the package is opened, there are no wrinkles ordamage and the article expands to normal size. These articles are notbreakable, so there is no need for protection. Boxes are objectionablesince they are bulky, heavy and wasteful of shipping and storage space.The present vacuum sealed bag package is moisture-proof, lightweight andcompact and can be easily stored in a minimum space.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new andimproved packaging means for soft articles such as shirts, and otherarticles of clothing.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means forpackaging soft articles to provide moisture-proof, lightweight andcompact packages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedpackaging machine for inserting and vacuum sealing soft articles,comprising:

Indexing table means having a plurality of positions,

Means at a first work station to supply bags of heat sealable material,each of said positions having bag holding means, and article beingadapted to index to successive work positions,

Means at a second work station to hold open said bag and insert anarticle in said bag,

Means at a third work station to evacuate and seal said bag tightlyaround said article.

GENERAL OPERATION FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the carrier drive.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of the gripper assembly.

FIGS. 4 and 4A are detail views of the bag feeding apparatus, Station 1.

FIGS. 5, 5A and 5B are detail views of Station 2, illustrating thearticle inserting means.

FIGS. 6 and 6A are front and side views of the vacuum chamber, Station3.

FIG. 7 is a detail view illustrating the ejecting means, Station 4.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the locations of the air cylinders.

I the machine frame.

FIGS. 9 and 9A are schematic electrical diagrams.

FIG. 10 is a chart of the timing sequence.

Referring to FIG. 1, the packaging machine comprises an indexing carrierC. The carrier has four bag holding positions, 11, 12, 13 and 14, andthe carrier is adapted to index to four work locations. Each holdingposition on the table has a pair of grippers G which grip the sides ofthe bag to hold it in position.

The four work locations are as follows:

Station 1 is the bag pickup. Means are provided to receive a bag B fromautomatic feeding apparatus or by manual feeding. The automatic feedingapparatus may be a bag making machine of the type commerciallyavailable.

Station 2.Article loading: Articles A such as garments are placed on afeeding platform 15, either manually or with a conveyor. When thearticles are pushed into the bag on the carrier by means of the pusher16, means are provided to hold the bag open for this purpose, as will bedescribed.

Station 3.-Evacuation and sealing: The loaded bag package is transferredby the carrier to the evacuation Station 3. A vacuum chamber 32 isautomatically lowered over the package and the air evacuated.Thereafter, heat sealing jaws are actuated to seal the bag. The vacuumchamber is then lifted and the carrier indexed to work Station 4.

Station 4 is the ejection station. Means are provided to release thegrippers and remove the package from the carrier. The empty position ofthe carrier then indexes to Station 1 where it will receive another bag.

The contour packaging machine is adapted to receive, for instance, afixed 20 /2" width pouch with variable depth (from 17 /2" maximum downto 13 /2" minimum). The bag feeder drops the completed pouch ontodrop-off place at its exit end and the pouch transfer transfers thepouch into the indexing grippers. The bag should extend outapproximately 1 inch in front of the grippers. This extension of pouchis required to allow proper opening of pouch in Station 2.

I The pouch is held by grippers G in the side sealed seam area of thepouch, allowing for the maximum pouch opening. The pouch is held bythese grippers throughout the machine cycle and is released at the ejectstation.

As the pouch appears in the pouch opening Station 2, the two (2) vacuumopening suckers (upper and lower) close and open. This opens the mouthof the bag to receive the garment and just prior to the garment beingpushed into the pouch, the entrance flappers open (opening the bag onfour (4) sides). An air blast jet is preferably provided for additionalassistance in opening the pouch.

The heat seal bars incorporated within the evacuation chamber arepreferably mounted in such a manner as to be self-aligning.

Upon reaching proper vacuum, the sealer bars in the evacuation chamberare actuated. The upper sealer bar is fixed to the inside of theevacuation chamber. The lower sealer bar is raised into position bymeans of three (3) air cylinders. Alignment of bars is important toprovide proper sealing. In order to maintain a fully closed and sealedchamber, the rubber discs located on the gripper shaft must come incontact with the bed of the machine to seal off the opening required forthe gripper arm shafts.

A diaphragm D located on the top of the chamber provides self-contouringfeature around the package for ideal evacuation conditions.

MAIN INDEXING DRIVE by control switches on 3 OPERATION.

The main motor 11 is a 2 HF. 1800 r.p.m. motor which runs continuouslyduring operation. Motor pulley 11a is connected to driven pulley 12,which is directly coupled to magnetic clutche 13, brake 14, shaft 17,and speed reducer 18, which turns driving pinion gear 18, which drivesgear 19 of main carrier C and grippers G from station to station. Whenmain carrier C rotates on station, a signal is received from switch 19'located on main frame at delivery station and magnetic brake 14isenergized stopping main carrier C and grippers in register at eachstation.

POUCH GRIPPER ASSEMBLYFIG. 3

The pouch or bag gripper assembly (two per station) on carrier C,transfers the pouch or bag from station to station. Once the pouch ispicked up at the pouch pickup station and placed into the grippers, itis never let go (B) Inward motion towards each other to allow the pouchto be opened at Station 2.

(C) A vertical motion to level the pouch in the evacuation chamber.

There motions are controlled by:

(A) Gripper opening air actuator 44b.

(B) Inward motion bell crank 42.

(C) Vertical motionvacuum chamber 32.

In the pouch pickup station (FIG. 1) the pouch grippers are in openposition, actuated up vertically by means of an air cylinder 44b whichforces inside shaft 39c up opening gripper jaws 44, 44a. The jaws 44aopen sufficiently to receive the bag B as picked up by pouch pickup. Assoon as pouch pickup returns, placing the edge of the pouch into thegripper, air actuator 44b drops releasing entire shaft assembly, causingthe pouch to be gripped by rubber grippers G. The entire gripperassembly is spring loaded so as to be moved vertically by vacuum chamber32.

The cup 38 is only used at Station No. 2. The cup 38 pushes washer 38a,compressing spring 38b to permit side movement of the grippers.

BAG TRANSFER STATIONFIG. 4

This station is designed to pick up a bag or pouch from the pouchdelivery plate 59 and place it in such a position into the contourpackaging machine that it can readily be transferred from station tostation. The transfer station comprises two air cylinders 25, 26, a gibsystem 50, and a gripper finger system 27. When the index carrier Ccomes to rest, and a pouch is in position, the pouch transfer arm 27comes forward to the pouch drop-off plate 28. As the arm reaches thedrop-off plate, the grippers 27 close on the lead edge of the bag andthe arm returns to its rest position. The pouch automatically is placedbetween the grippers G of the index unit and the grippers close.

, Upon placement of the pouch into the grippers, the unit indexes thepouch to the pouch opening and garment insertion station. The followingsequence occurs.

POUCH OPENING AND GARMENT INSERTION STATIONFIGS. 5, 5A AND 5B Thegarments are manually placed by the operator onto the platform 15. Atthe proper time of the cycle, the pusher 16 is actuated manually orautomatically to propel the garment forward into the open mouth of thepouch.

POUCH OPENING DEVICE-FIG. 5

. The pouch opening device comprises the following items:

(A) Upper and lower vacuum bars-20, 21.

4' (B) Upper and lower-entrance flaps 22, 22". a

(C) Side entrance flaps 23, 23.

OPERATING SEQUENCE (1) Index gripper stop in front of garment insertionstation FIG. 5. f

(2) Vacuum bars 20, 21 close, vacuum is turned on andbars open. As barsopen, FIG. 5A, grippers G move inward toward each other to relax bag. Ir

(3) Upper and lower flaps 22, 22 open, gripping the bag to the vacuumbars.

(4) The side flaps 23 open, FIG. 5B, squaring off the mouth of the bag.

(5) The air blast is turned on, straightening out the bag. V

(6) The pusher comes forward pushing the garment into the open mouth ofthe bag, FIG. 5B.

(7) The flaps are removed.

(8) The vacuum on bars 20, 21 is released and the grippers are pulledback, making the mouth of the bag taut.

The filled pouch is indexed to the evacuation station and the followingsequence occurs.

EVACUATION STATIONFIGS. 6, 6A

EIECT STATIONFIG. 7

. When the package reaches the eject station:

(1) The lower portion of the table is dropped by eject cylinder 46.

(2) Simultaneously, the grippers open and the pouch knock down arms 47pull the pouch out of the grippers.

The empty set of index grippers move into the pouch pick-up station andthe cycle starts again.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 4, when the pouch is delivered tothe register board 28, a signal is given for pouch pickup. During theforward travel of the pickup gripper assembly the gripper fingers 27 onthe pickup unit are open and the pouch grippers G on the main carrierare open. In order to bring the pickup arm system close enough to theregister board 24, a system of double air cylinders are used. When thesignal is given, shaft of air cylinder 25 of the pouch pickup systemtravels forward to the full length of its stroke. During its stroke, aircylinder 26 is actuated and the pickup fingers 27 travel forward to pickup pouch B, which is on the register 'board 28. The cylinder shaftstroke of cylinder 25 is set to travel forward sufficiently thatgrippers 21 enter clearance notches of register board, grippers 27 areclosed by motor 27 clamping pouch between grippers 27 and top holddownplate 29. A signal is given and cylinder 25 is exhausted, and during itsreturn, stroke air cylinder 26 exhausts, returning the entire assemblyto its rear position The bag is held in the grippers" 27 until thesignal is given to the main carrier grippers G to close. At this point,grippers 27 open andmain carrier C rotates to next station carryingpouch B clamped in the jaws-of pickup assembly is mounted on brackets48, 49 which ride on gib orslide bar'50, there being one slide bar onthe other side. i

In FIG. 4, the bag B is shown after having been delivered into operativeposition and gripped by the grippers illustrating 6. The amount oftravel of the bag transfer is indicated by the dimension line.

In operation, the air motors 25 and 26 extend the pick- -up clamp to thebag feeding plate 28, which is only partially shown. The plate 28 isnotched, as illustrated in FIG. 1, so that the finger clamps can extendinto the notches and grip the closed ends of the bag. The bags may befeed onto the plate 28 manually or they may be fed by some automaticmachine, and provision is made in the electric control for energizingthe apparatus by means of an automatic bag feeding device if desired.

GARMENT INFEED STATIONFIGS. 5, A, 5B

Once the pouch B is placed in the grippers G and they close, electricclutch 13 (FIG. 2) is energized and main carrier C is driven by gears18, 19 to rotate the gripper arms G to the next station (garment infeedStation 2).

The gripper system G places the open mouth of the pouch, which extendsabout 1 from gripper, between suckers 20 and 21, (FIG. 5). Upon receiptof a signal from the control timer, air cylinders 20' and 21 areactuated, lowering vacuum tube 20 and raising vacuum tube 21 towards thepouch. Simultaneously, grippers G are moved in together towards thecenter of the bag by bell cranks 42 before vacuum tubes 20, 21completely close. Vacuum is turned on as soon as the tubes start theirmovement towards the pouch. The vacuum tubes 20, 21 remain in theirclosed position momentarily in order that they have sufiicient time tograb on to pouch B. On the next signal, air is exhausted from aircylinders 20', 21' and vacuum tubes 20 and 21 move apart again, whichopens the pouch. Simultaneously, top flipper 22' and bottom flipper 22and side flippers 23 are operated through drive and gear system 36. Thebottom flipper 22 provides a shelf whereby the garment can be readilyslid into the pouch B without disturbing the pouch, which is being heldby suckers 20, 21. The top flipper 22' and side flippers 23 act as afunnel, again allowing the garment to pass through the opening withoutdisturbing the open mouth of the pouch. As the flippers open, air blasttube 40 blows air into the pouch B providing a completely open pouch forthe garment to be inserted. Garment pusher P is actuated pushing thegarment off the platform 4 through the opening and into the pouch.

'As soon as the garment pusher B starts its return and clears theopening, the side flippers 23, top flipper 22' and bottom flipper 22start to close, vacuum is removed from suckers 20, 21 and the grippers Greturn to their original position, making the mouth of the pouch tautand flat, preparatory for the evacuation and sealing station. The maincarrier C is rotated to bring the filled pouch to the evacuationstation.

EVACUATION STATIONFIGS. 6 AND 6A The evacuation station serves twopurposes; one it exhausts the air from the package by means of vacuum,and two, it seals the open side of the pouch.

OPERATION, VACUUM STATION When grippers G which carry the filled pouch Bfrom the garment infeed station reach the evacuation station,

.a signal is given by a switch 55. Upon receiving an actuation signal,the movable table section 65 is moved inward bycylinders 111 (FIG. 9A)to seal the gap required for the grippers G to rotate. The front liftcylinders 63, 63a and rear chamber lift cylinders 66 are exhausted andthe chamber 32 drops to the table T surface. When the chamber hitschamber down switch 32a, vacuum solenoid valves 31 are actuated and,vacuum drawn from the chamber through vacuum orifices 34 located in thebed of the table. When maximum vacuum is reached (20" mercury), vacuumswitch 64b actuates heater lift cylinder M1, M2, M3, sealing open mouthof pouch. The package detector plate and compressor '67 senses whetheror not a filled pouch is in the chamber. If there is no filled packagein the chamber switch, vacuum safety switch 32b is not depressed and avacuum is not drawn in the chamber. The dwell time for the sealing cycleis controlled through timer 64 which is actuated by vacuum switch 32a.

In the vacuum chamber 32 is mounted a flexible diaphragm which is sealedto the upper portion of the vacuum chamber so that when the air issucked out of the vacuum chamber from the bottom, then the diaphragm Dis forced down by air pressure which enters through apertures in the topof the chamber so as to compress the article to a fraction of its normalsize. At the same time, the bag is evacuated and then sealed so that thepackage is a vacuum-sealed compressed package. It has been found thatwith articles like sweaters and other soft bulky, light weight articles,that the volume can be reduced to about 25% of the normal volume so thata great saving in shipping and storage space can be achieved.

Referring to FIG. 7, the eject platform 45 is rotatably mounted andoperated by motor 46. As the platform 45 moves down, its extension arm47 strips the bag out of the open gripper jaws G and permits the filledbag to slide out.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a diagram illustrating the locationof all of the air cylinder motors and solenoid valves.

At the bag loading Station 1, cylinders 25 and 26 operate the bag clamp27 and the clamp itself is operated by a motor 27'. Cylinders 44b, 44coperate the grippers.

Station 2 (see also FIG. 5).In addition to the gripper motors, there aremotors 42', 42" for pushing the grippers sideways by means of hellcranks 42 (see FIG. 3). Also, there is an air blast from valve 105 toassist in opening the bag, and there are upper and lower vacuum suckervalves 20' and 21. Also, there is a motor 23' for operating the upper,lower and side flaps (see FIG. 5) which operate to rotate into the openmouth of the bag so that the article may be inserted, which is done bymeans of the pusher motor 106.

In the vacuum station 3 (see also FIG. 6), there are front chamber liftmotors 63, 63a. There are also rear chamber lift motors 66, 66.

Motors M1, M2 and M3 raise the lower heating bar 61. The motors 111,111' move the table portion 65. This is necessary to allow space for thegrippers to rotate through the vacuum station. After the grippers areindexed in the vacuum station, the table portion 65 is rotated down tohorizontal position by the motors 111, 111'. The table portion 65 hasnotches 65' to accommodate the gripper shafts. The edges of the movableportion and the corresponding contacting edges of the table have rubberlips or seals, so that a vacuum seal may be obtained when the chamber 32is lowered.

Station 4 has gripper opener motors 44b and 44c and an ejector motor 46(see FIG. 7). All above motors are solenoid valved air cylindersconnected to a source of compressed air.

FIGS. 9 and 9A are an electrical schematic diagram. Power is applied onterminals 70, and 71. The two, sealing bars located in the vacuumchamber are individually controlled in temperature by the heatingcontrols 61 and 62 which are conventional. The main power relay coil 74is energized by main power button 75 through conventional doorinterlocks 75, 75". Main power indicator light 74 lights when the mainpower relay 74 is energized. The Hand-Auto switch 76 is connected toselect manual or automatic operation. Switch 76 is energized throughemergency stop switches 77, 78, which are preferably connected in serieswith one or more safety switches 79, controlled .by air pressure. Theother side of the Hand- Auto switch 76 is connected through the Runswitch 80 which is adapted to energize relay coil CR2. The lower contactof switch 76 is also connected through the contacts CR2 of CR2 to thetimer motor 81.

Relay coils CR4 and CR5 are connected in series with switch 198 which isoperated by cam 19C. Switch 198 is bypassed by latch switch L in serieswith holding contacts CR4. R'elay'coil CRl is Connected in series withcontacts CR9 and CR4 and. preferably through a plurality ofmicro-control switches 91-99 and index position switch 90. The sensingswitches 91 and 99 are optional and may be placed to sense position ofany movable part of the machine so that all movable parts will be in theproper position for energizing CR1.

Relay coil CR9 is connected in series with bag sensing switch 100. Timerrelay coil 101 is connected in series with switch 100 and contacts CR5which are normally closed, as indicated by the slant line. Start cycleswitch 102 is connected parallel with switch 100. Bag transfer solenoid25' is connected in series with bag feed safety switch 103 and switch38, which is operated by cam SC on the timing shaft TS, which is drivenby timer motor 81. Bag transfer solenoid 26' is connected in series withswitch 38.

Air blast solenoid 105 is connected in series with switch 148 which isoperated by cam 14C.

Loader air solenoid 106 is connected in series with switch 105, which isoperated by cam 10C. Bag clamping finger solenoid 27 is connected inseries with switch 4S, which is operated by cam 4C. The air solenoid 20'for the bag opening vacuum suckers is connected in series with switch 68which is operated by cam 6C.

Vacuum air solenoid 108 is connected in series with switch 78, which isoperated by cam 70. Solenoid 42', which operates the side pushing bellcrank 42 for the grippers, is connected in series with switch 88, whichis operated by cam 8C.

Solenoid 23a which operates the side flaps is connected in series withswitch 98, which is operated by cam 9C.

Solenoid 44' which operates the gripper jaws is connected in series withswitch 5S which is operated by timer cam 50.

Relay coil CR7 is connected in series with switches 18 and 25, which areoperated by timer cams 1C and 2C. The contacts CR3 and CR7 are connectedin series and both of them are connected in parallel with switch 28. 1Vacuum chamber front solenoid 63' is connected in series with switch128, which is operated by timer cam 12C. The rear chamber solenoid 66'is connected in parallel with solenoid 63'. The squeezer air solenoid111 is connected in parallel with solenoid 66' when switch 128 isclosed.-

The vacuum air solenoid 31' which supplies vacuum to the chamber 32 isconnected in series with the vacuum chamber position sensing switches64B and 32B in FIG. 6. The vacuum solenoid 112 is connected in serieswith vacuum sensing switch 113, which controls the vacuum pressure inthe chamber. The vacuum chamber heater bar cylinders M1, M2 and M3 (FIG.6), are controlled by solenoid 114, which is operated through the timercontrol unit 115, which in turn is actuated by the vacuum sensing switch116, so that after the proper vacuum is obtained, the heat sealing bars61, 62 (FIG. 6) will operate. After the timer 115 reaches its pre-settime, it deactivatesthe heater solenoid 114 and energizes relay CR3which opens CR3, removes all power from this portion of the circuit andreleases front and rear air solenoids 63, 66 and squeezer air solenoid.

ELECTRICAL OPERATION When power is applied, the sealing bars 61, 62 inthe vacuum chamber will heat up. The two sealing bars 61,

'62 in the vacuum chamber 32 are individually controlled Push IndexMotor button- 86 to start index motor 87, which will beindicated by. thepilot light'87j Place Hand-Olf-Automatic switch 76 in automaticposition. Q i

5 Push Run button'80 which will energize coil CR2 and its holdingcontacts 'CR2'.' Machine is now ready to run. Pushing either of theEmergency Stop switches 77, 78, which are located convenient to theoperator, or turning the Han'd-Off-Auto switch 76' to OE will releaseCR2. 0 7 a Timer motor 81 is started by momentary start switch 100 or102 and timer relay 101. Solenoid 101" closes switch 205 in series withtimer motor 81. Switch 208 is held closed by cam 20C. Switch 100thenreturns to energize CR9 and CR1 indexing circuit.

Contacts CR2 and switch 208, operated by timer cam 20C, energize thetimer motor 81, which controls the operation of the Packaging Machine bya series of cams operating the air cylinders. If the Packaging Machineis out of position or indicates a fault, it will not cycle.

At the end of the cycle, switch 208 opens and stops timer motor 81.

INDEX CONTROL In auto position of switch when CR9, CR4 (FIG. 9A)contacts and all safety switches 91-99 are closed, CR1 will beenergized. The contacts CR1 will close and start the clutch 23 circuitof the index motor. As the table swings around, it will hit a stopswitch 89, which will start the brake 24 circuit and release the clutch23.

Indexing is started by switch 198, assuming all other control circuitsare in go condition, and the motor will index the grippers to StationNo. 2 where it is stopped by switch 89, which is operated by a cam 89a,which cam is adjustably connected to the rotating gripper arms. Thereare other cams 89b, 89c, 89d, which stop the indexing motor at the otherthree work locations.

The switch 89 is connected to operate the brake control 23a so as todisconnect clutch 23 and apply the brake 24. The index position switch90 and the index latch switch L are also operated by cams 90' and Lwhich are adjustably mounted on the moving gripper assembly asillustrated in FIG. 1, on different levels to avoid interference.

INDEX SAFETY INDICATIONS AND CONTROL When the table is in the properposition of the packaging machine to cycle, it is indicated by the light90'. While the table is indexing or the table has stopped off itsspotposition, this light will go otf.

There are preferably nine movable part position sensing switches 91-99and corresponding indicators. These are optional and may be by-passed.If any of these are open, the Packaging Machine will not index until thefault is corrected.

CYCLE START 7 When the machine is in Run position, if the bags are fedautomatically, a bag delivery bar or sensor pushes the Sensing Startswitch 100. This energizes the timer relay 101, which lets the PackagingMachine cycle. Manual switch 102 may also be used.

If the previous cycle has not indexed for any reason, the CR5 relaywould be energized and contact CR5 opened and the Start switch would notbe able to energize the timer relay.

AIR CYLINDER CONTROL Most air cylinders are controlled by the timer camson timer shaft TS. If power is removed, they all return to an openposition. The bag transfer (FIG. 4) has upper and lower cylinders 25, 26and corresponding solenoids 25', 26'. Timer switch 38 energizes theairsolenoids and both cylinders move forward. Solenoid 27' actuates bagclamp 27.

9 VACUUM CHAMBER CONTROL The start signal for the vacuum chamber isreceived from cam 2C and switch 28 of the timer. This energizes CR7 andcontacts CR7" and also energizes the front chamber 63', rear chamber 66'and squeezer 111 air solenoids to close the chamber 32. When the chamberbottoms, it closes a switch 64b which energizes both vacuum airsolenoids 31'.

When the pre-set vacuum pressure is reached, the vacuum sensing switch113 closes and starts the industrial timer 115 and energizes the vacuumcontrol air solenoid. When the industrial timer has completed its cycle,it energizes CR3 which releases CR7 and all air solenoids. The chamberopens and waits for its next start signal. It proper vacuum is notobtained, the industrial timer 115 does not operate.

LOADING STATION CONTROL When the bag arrives on the loading station,switch 68, operated by the time cam 6C, operates solenoid 20', whichactuates the bag opening vacuum suckers, while switch 75 operates thesolenoid 108 to apply vacuum. After the bag is open, switch 88 actuatesthe solenoid 42 which in turn actuates the bell crank 42 to move thegrippers sideways. It will be appreciated that there is a bell crank andcorresponding solenoid for each grippertwo for each station and 8 inall, as discussed in connection with FIG. 8. The function of the sidepushing of the grippers is to relax the bag so it can be opened. Thegrippers normally hold the sides of the bag taut due to the springloading of the jaws by the springs 51, 52, etc. (FIG. 3).

The side and bottom flaps of FIG. are then energized by air cylindermotor 23, which is actuated by switch 98, which is, in turn, operated bycam 9C.

The gripper jaws are actuated by the air cylinder motor 44' (see FIG.3), operated by switch 98.

The timer motor operates until the end of the cycle when it is stoppedby switch 208, operated by cam 20C.

Just prior to the end of the timer motor cycle, the switch 198 closes,which closes the circuit CR4 and CR5. The contact CR4 closes the circuitto CR1 and contact CR1" starts the index clutch. As the table indexes,it opens index latch switch which releases CR4 and CR5. The clutch staysenergized until the index stop switch 89 is hit and the brake is appliedot the index motor and is then ready for the next cycle.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of the time sequence of operations, illustrating a3 second cycle. It will be appreciated that there are four bags on theapparatus at one time and operations at each station go forwardsimultaneously.

Line 1 illustrates the period of the cycle when the vacuum chamber isclosed.

Line 2 illustrates the bag feed at Station 1.

Line 3 illustrates the gripper clamping period.

Line 4 illustrates the operation at the bag loading station andillustrates the opening of the bag with the upper and lower vacuumsuckers, the side pushers for the grippers, the operation of the flaps.

Line 5 illustrates the time of pushing the article into a bag while theflaps are open.

Many modifications may be made by those who desire to practice theinvention without departing from the scope thereof which is defined bythe following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A packaging machine for inserting and vacuum sealing soft articlescomprising:

indexing carrier means having a plurality of positions,

said carrier means having bag holding means at each of said positions,

said carrier means being adapted to index to successive .Work stations,

means at a first work station to supply bags of heat sealable material,

means at a second work station to hold open said bag and insert anarticle in said bag,

means at a third Work station to evacuate and seal said bag tightlyaround said article.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 having means at a fourth work station toeject said sealed package from said table.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said bag tholding means comprise apair of grippers adapted to grip the sides of a bag, said grippers beingadapted to hold said bag taut for heat sealing, and means to move saidgrippers together to relax said bag to insert an article therein.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 having means to periodically index saidcarrier and synchronize the work means at said work stations.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means at said first work stationcomprises bag pickup fingers, and motor I means connected to saidfingers to deliver a bag to said bag holding means.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means at said second workstation comprises means to hold said bag open and, a hydraulic piston topush an article into said bag.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means at said third work stationcomprises a vacuum chamber adapted to enclose said filled bag and heatsealing means adapted to seal said bag.

8. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said carrier is a rotary carrier,having grippers and said bag slides on a stationary table.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,601,020 6/1952 Hopp 53-842,833,096 5/1958 Randall 5386 2,924,922 2/1960 Burnett 53112 X 3,377,7694/1968 Bridgeman 5384 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

